Terra Solar set for first-phase commercial activity in Q1, DoE says

THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DoE) said Terra Solar Philippines, Inc. (TSPI) is on track to begin commercial operation of the first phase of its 2,500-megawatt (MW) solar farm in the first quarter (Q1) of 2026, following the energization of its substation.

“The DoE will continue working with NGCP (National Grid Corp. of the Philippines) and the project proponent to ensure that grid interconnection requirements and safety standards are met, and that key commissioning milestones remain on track,” it said in a media release on Sunday.

The first stage of the Terra Solar project has advanced crucial grid interconnection with the NGCP, following the energization of the Terra Solar 500-kilovolt substation on Dec. 21, the DoE said.

The agency added that the first stage will deliver 364 MW of the planned 2,500-MW solar development, complemented by battery energy storage systems.

The Energy department is monitoring the timely completion of 200 power generation projects nationwide, including the Terra Solar project, noting that it is working to fast-track the construction of power generation facilities over the next three years.

It said it is coordinating with project proponents to address challenges such as permitting constraints, right-of-way issues, and equipment delivery delays.

“The DoE continues to track project progress and coordinate closely with stakeholders to ensure that committed capacity is delivered on schedule and in a manner consistent with safety and grid reliability requirements,” the agency said.

As of end-November, a total of 956 MW of new capacity had been added to the power grid from 14 power plants, including 12 utilizing renewable technologies, one oil-based facility, and one natural gas-fired plant.

The Philippines aims to increase the share of renewable energy in the power mix to 35% by 2030 and 50% by 2040.

TSPI is an affiliate of Meralco PowerGen Corp., the power generation arm of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco). Meralco’s controlling stakeholder, Beacon Electric Asset Holdings, Inc., is partly owned by PLDT Inc.

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